Washing attachment for tubs



. Jul 15 1924.

H. A. SMITH WASHING ATTACHMENT FOR TUBS 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Ilay 31 Patented July 15, 1924.

HARRY A. SIVIITH, OF MONDOVI, WASHINGTON.

WASHING ATTACHMENT FOR TUBS.

Application filed May 31,1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY A. SMITH, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Mondovi, in the county of Lincoln and State of IVashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Washing Attachments for Tubs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a to be attached to a wash tub, and by means of which the washing is done mechanically.

One object of the invention is to construct the device so that it may be attached to wash tubs of different sizes, and another object of the invention is to furnish hand or motor driven mechanical parts carried in said attachment, whereby the articles to be washed may be secured in a head or plunger and will obtain a combined oscillatory and reciprocating movement.

In the accompanying drawings, one embodiment of the invention is illustrated; and- Figure 1 represents in perspective view, the device assembled on a wash tub;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the head or plunger;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view.of some details of the plunger;

Figure 4 is a side elevation, partly in sec tion, of one of the clamps holding the device' V Figure 5 is a similar view of the crank and its connection with the central post of the plunger;

Figure 6 is a side view of the latch bolt;

Figure 7 ,is a fragmentary side view of the boss of the plunger;

Figure 8 is a top plan view of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a front elevation of Figure 7; and

Figure 10 is a substitute head or plunger adapted to be exchanged with the plunger shown in Figure 2.

In the drawings, reference. numeral 15 represents an ordinary. wash tub. The washing machine proper consists of two main parts, namely, the plunger or head 16 and the support 17 for the head. The support isof spider construction and has a main arm 18 from "which extends radially, two other arms 19 spaced apart approximately 120. To the main arm 18 is hinged as at 14, a shelf 20 carrying clamping angles 21 and clamping screws 22 for securing the bracket or shelf with the arm 18 against the device adapted socket 44 formed in j the hub 32.

Serial No. 642,655.

,top edge of the tub 15, as best seen in Figure 1.

The arms 19 are each hollow and adapted to receive a sliding bar 23 having a pair of depending jaws 24 and 25 adapted to engage over the edge of the tub 15 and the outer jaw 25 carries the clamp screw 26 engaging the edge of the tub when inserted between thetwo jaws 24 and 25. In order to make this spider shaped'support adjustable to tubs of different diameters, the sliding bar 23 can be pushed in or out of the hollow arms 19 and secured by means of a set screw 27 see Figure 4.

At the inner end of the main arm 18 is shown an upwardly directed standard 28 terminating with a bearing 29 for the operatingshaft 30, which is suspended perpendicularly through the bearing and engaged in a central hearing as at 31 in the main arm 18 of the spiderprojecting through the same in order to receive the hub 32 of the head or plunger 16. The shaft 30 is carried in its bearings 29 and 31 in such a manner that it may receive an axial displacement as well as a rotary or oscillatory movement thereon.

Betweenthe two bearings, the shaft 30 is provided with a sleeve 33 rigidly secured thereon, and in which a rod 34 is mounted to have telescopic engagement therewith. The outer end of'the rod carries a semispherical bearing 35 and a cap 36 completes this spherical bearing for. the ball 37 on a crank 38. The cap 36 is secured by means of screws, 39 or the like to the telescopic rod 34.

The crank 38 is rigidly mounted at one end on the crank shaft 39, mounted in a pair of bearings 40 and 41, which are preferably integral with the main arm 18 of the spider, or if more suitable, may be bolted or riveted to the latter At the outer end of the crank shaft 39 is secured an operating member such as a handle 42.

The head or plunger 16 as has already been described, has a hub 32 intended to be secured at the lower end of the'main shaft 30. In order to quickly attach or detach 'the head, a'locking bolt 43 is carried transversely in said hub and passing across the When in locked position, the latch or looking bolt 43 engages with a cylindrical portion in a corresponding notch 45 provided at the lower, end of the main shaft "30, see Figure 5. At one end the locking bolt 43 is provided with a head 46, between which and furnished in the sleeve-like extension 51 of the hub 32, thus providing a bayonet lock for the bolt. Vv hen in the open or releasing position, the plunger is situated as in'Figure 9, with the stud 4:9 engaging at the bottom of the long shank of the L-shaped slot 50, when the recess 418 coincides with the bar or socket 32 of the hub. After the main shaft has been entered into the hub with its notch 4.5 facing the latch bolt, the latter is pushed in against the action of the coil spring 1'? and then turned a quarter turn to engage at the end of the short shank of the slot 50, as indicated in Figure 8, when the full diameter of the latch bolt engages inuthe notch 15 of the main shaft 30 and locks it in position. In Figure 7, the stud 4:9 is indicated as standing in intermediary position between locking and unlocking.

The head or plunger 16 has two concentric rings 52 and 53 of different diameters [and rigidly connected to the hub 32 by means of arcuate arms 54: and 55 respectively so that the head or spindle extends some distance below the support 17 and can move up and down under the same. On the inner side of the outer ring 52 is provided a series of clips preferably consisting of short semicircular springs 56 contacting with radial pins 57, as best seenin Figure 3. The inner ring 53 is likewise provided with clips consisting of springs 58 and pins 59, the latter clips facing those on the outer ring so that articles to be washed may be suspended between the. inner and outer clips, as seen at 60 in Figure 3.

In Figure 10 is indicated a solid sided plunger 61 in the shape of a hollow cone having a hub 62 of similar construction to the hub 32 already'described, and provided withthe same locking arrangement consisting of a locking bolt 63. This plunger is intended to replace the large head or plunger 16 for some kinds of'washing.

lVhen using the device, the support or spider 17 is. preferablyyfirst attached to the edge of the tub by means of the. clamping screws 22, while the spider arms togatherv with the main shaft 30 are raised or swung back over the hinges 1 1. The articles to be washed are then secured in the plunger or head 16, which at this time may bedetached from the main shaft 30. With the articles suspended between the clips on the inner and outer rings of the plunger 16, the latter is then attached to the lower end of the main shaft 30 by means of the locking bolt 43 and the entire device is swung down around the hinges r1 into the tub, and the sliding bars adjusted to engage over the top edge of the tub 16 and secured thereto by means of the clamp screws 26.

Thecrank shaft 39 may now be turned y hand or by a suitable motor which starts the crank 38 to revolve. The circular motion of the crank ball 37 is then transferred into a vertical reciprocation of the main shaft 30 and a simultaneous oscillating movement thereof through the telescopic engagement with the rod 3 1 and sleeve 33. The extent of the oscillation is about In this manner the articles to be washed are swung back and forth in the tub, while at the same time they are raised or lowered therein so that a considerable agitation in the water is worked up, which will cause ner, the plunger or head 16 may be removed together with the washer and replaced by a substitute head, upon which other articles have been attached. r

The plunger may also be permitted to remain in place on the main shaft 30, while the washed articles are being removed and others attached in the clips, the support in the meantime, of course, remaining in open position.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a device of the class described, a supporting member, elements on said mem-' ber adapted to secure the member to a receptacle, a main shaft mounted tomove in said support, a plunger on said main shaft, and means for communicating to said main shaft a combined oscillatory and reciprocating movement, said plunger having concentric rings and a series of clips on said rings adapted to hold material to be washed.

2. In a device of the class described, a supporting member, adjustable clamping ele ments on'said member adapted to-secure'the member to a receptacle, a main shaft mounted in suitable hearings in said support, a washing plunger detachably mounted on said main shaft, and means forcommunicat ing to said main shaft a combined oscillatory and reciprocating movement; said clamping elements including a main arm, a bracket hinged to said main arm, clamping bolts on said bracket, radial arms and rods having telescopic engagement therewith, jaws on said rods adapted to engage the edge of the receptacle, and clamping screws on said jaws.

3. In a device of the class described, a supporting member, adjustable clamping elements on said member adapted to secure the member to a receptacle, a main shaft mounted in suitable bearings in said support, a washing plunger detachably mounted on said main shaft, and means for communicating to said main shaft a combined oscillatory and reciprocating movement; said plunger having spaced concentric rings and a series of opposing clips on said rings adapted to hold material to be washed; said means including a crank, a shaft for said crank revolubly mounted on said supporting member, a sleeve secured on said main shaft, a rod telescopically mounted in said sleeve, and a universal joint between said crank and said rod; the detachable mounting ,for said washing plunger includin a hub having a socket for said main s aft, a transverse locking bolt adapted to normally engage in a notch furnished in said main shaft, and a bayonet lock between said bolt and said hub.

4:. In a device of the class described, a supporting member, adjustable clamping elements on said member adapted to secure the member to a receptacle, a main shaft mounted in suitable bearings in said support, a washing plunger detachably mounted on said main shaft, and means for communicating to said main shaft a combined oscillatory and reciprocating movement; said plunger having spaced concentric rings and a series of opposing clips on said rings adapted to hold material to be washed; said means including a crank, a shaft for said crank revolubly mounted on said supporting member, a sleeve secured on said main shaft, a rod telescopically mounted in said sleeve, and a universal joint between said crank and said rod; the detachable mounting for said washing plunger including a hub having a socket for said main shaft, a transverse locking bolt adapted to normally engage in a notch furnished in said main shaft, and a bayonet lock be tween said bolt and said hub; said clamping elements including a main arm, a bracket hinged to said main arm, clamping bolts on said bracket, radial arms and rods having telescopic engagement therewith, jaws on said rods adapted to engage the edge of the receptacle, and clamping screws on said jaws.

5. In a device of the class described, a supporting member, elements on said member adapted to secure the member to a receptacle, a main shaft mounted to move in said sup porting member, a plunger on said main shaft, means for communicating to said main shaft a combined oscillatory and reciprocatory movement, said plunger having concentric rings, and elements on said rings adapted to secure material to be treated.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HARRY A. SMITH. [1,. s.] 

